Updated MSU Roster: Fosselman, Shumpert Absent; New Numbers

HOOVER, Ala. | Mississippi State’s 2012 football media guide is available for download (CLICK HERE), and there are two noticeable absences from the updated roster: Receiver Devin Fosselman and fullback William Shumpert, both scholarship players.

Both players are being put on permanent medical scholarship, which means they can continue to attend MSU with full athletic aid. Their scholarhips do not count against the NCAA-imposed limit of 85. Shumpert has been dealing with a neck injury, while Fosselman has back issues, a team spokesman said.

Fosselman was a 2011 signee who redshirted last season, and he was expected to add some depth to the receiving corps, it not this season then next. The 5-foot-10, 190-pounder from Woodville was rated the No. 14 prospect in the state by Rivals.com his senior year at Wilkinson County High School.

Shumpert was to be a fourth-year junior. He didn’t get on the field for MSU until last season, when he saw action in seven games.

Shumpert was the 2007 Daily Journal defensive player of the year as a junior at Itawamba AHS, where he played on the defensive line.

• The updated roster also reveals some jersey number changes for some Bulldogs. Most notable: Tight end Malcolm Johnson has switched from No. 80 to No. 6; tailback Nick Griffin has gone from No. 29 to No. 7; cornerback Darius Slay changed from No. 47 to No. 9; defensive end John Harris switched from No. 93 to No. 99; and defensive end Denico Autry, a juco signee who enrolled in January, exchanged No. 99 for No. 90.